Loose-leaf binder



June '1 1926.

A. VON AUW ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Oct. 23. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 314v 2411 was .zilu/in Wo n/flaw flair June 1 1926 1,587,447

A. VON AUW ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Got. 2 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H '2 A I i l 19 W?? 2 3O 15 l 1 i vial 17 a 6 R1 M Mm INVENTQRS June 1 1926.

A. VON A'uw ET AL LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed on. 25, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 THEIR ATTORNEYS Patented June 1, 192.6.

UNETEEE PATENT OFFECE.

ALWIN VON AUW AND CHARLES A. IFXNLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO BOORFUM 85 PEASE COIVZFANY, OF BROOZKILYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed October 23, 1923. Serial No. 670,297.

Our invention relates to loose leaf post binders and more particularl' to binders having flexible post members. This application is in part a continuation of our application Serial No. 5963 14, filed October 23, 19522.

One object of our invention is to provide an in'iproved, compact and simple form of binder and one whose mechanism can be operated quickly and easily. Another object of our invention is to provide an expansible ledger binder which opens like a book with a flexible back.

In the drawings 1 is a side elevation of the head of a binder embodying our invention, the dotted lines showing the clamping bars separated for the changing of the sheets;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same part of the binder with the clamping bars separated and one cover turned back;

3 is a transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a section of the clamping bar on line a d of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the end member as seen from the left detached and as if looking to the right from line 1-4 Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a partial section of the upper clamping bar taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, disassembled, of part of the winding means;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the top clamping bar partially broken away to show our four post form of construction;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the two clamping bars showing our four post form of constrnction.

Our invention relates to the type of loose leaf binder in which the sheets are threaded on flexible posts or binding members and held between hollow clamping bars or tubes, into or through which pass the surplus lengths of the binding members. We have discovered a very simple, practical and compact construction of mechanism for operat ing the binder, which can be placed inside one of the clamping tubes and at the same time we have produced a backless construction which, will open like a flexible-back bound book and lie flat on its back without rolling when the binder is open. It has been customary to make these ledger binders with a fixed curved back which permits the binder to roll from side to side when lying open on its back. This manifest disadvantage to anyone wishing to make entries in the book, has also been overcome by our invention.

In our binc er, hollow clamping bars 1, are each hinged at each end to a cover 3 by a pin 4 inserted through a hole 9 in an end plug and hinge member 5 and into a cover loop 6 on the end of the cover (Figs. 2 and 6). The end plug and hinge members 5 are fastened on the ends of the clamping bars by screws 7 passing through holes 8 in the member 5. In the upper clamping bar these screws thread into independent disks 24% closing the ends of the tube, while in the lower clamping bar, they each hold one end of a tie-rod 8 lying lengthwise in the bar.

The clamping bars are connected by a collapsible brace which prevents them from moving lengthwise or twisting with respect to each other. By twisting or angular displacement we mean angular displacement of the clamping members with respect to each other whereby the longitudinal axes of the clamping members will form an angle with each other. We have shown this brace as consisting of two pairs of toggle levers 10, 11, each pivoted at one end to 2. lug 12 in serted in the clamping bars, while the other ends of each pair' are joined together at pivot points 13 guided in slots 14 in a bar 15 running parallel to and between the clamping bars. These pairs of toggle levers 10, 11 preferably face in opposite directions, while each lever 10, 11 has pivotally connected to it a radius link 16 pivoted in turn to the bar 15 and forming a diamond with the pair of toggle levers and the other associated radius link. The lugs 12 pass through slots 17 in the clamping bars and are pivoted to rods 18 lying longitudinally inside them (see Figs. 1 and 6). The slots 17 are deep enough to permit these lugs to turn on the rods 18 in either direction and in consequence the two clamping bars can be turned slightly on their longitudinal axes with relation to each other as far as the slots 17 will permit (see Figs. 1 and 6). The clamping bars are shown turned on their longitudinal axes in one direction from parallel in Fig. 2. It will be understood, of

' endwise pressures from the helices course that the rocking connection between rue brace end the clamping hers can be eliminutee by simply making the lugs l2 rigid on the rods 18.

In nlnce 0t every two posts on which the sheets or" ordinarily threaded, we employ mous flexible binding member it), l 1 1 1n the torn; ot a cord. 'lhis coin one con i1 preferably can run from the lower dimming bur to the upper one near one end thence through 9 upper clamping tube to posnion near other end and back to the lower clnn'iping tube. A. bevelled bearing; ring 30 can he used at each point where the {l .xible member passes through the upper clamping; bar. The ends can )6 secured to the lower cleznpinn bur either directly or indirectly. "We lnive shown uch end of the cord set in a ins the end of the cord 1 ing bar by hearing ug eine clamping bar trume 5252 (see toned longitudinally in the u end DO receive Keyed to the is :1 winding disk 24: see

There is a hole through l e disl:

rectly opposed to each other and wil trulize euch other entirely. We 3-" make the o ieningr in the winding o s' enough to )ermit the binding inem l ah the disk. '5 he tensions elves ot the bn dine; member pass freely rnrou ot' the two h ur thus unto itically lQll eonul by this slin of the binding iuen'iaetirounh the winding disk, without in 2 w y l1sturb in e. inn; the portions of the bi idin member pussinn through the sheets.

To prevent the indinn member Fin . b ing imwound except when it desired to ehencge the sheets in the binder. we provide :1

ratchet mechanism (shown in i) at one end of the upper cltmp'inn bur. On the winding sills-ft 25- 1s kved a ratchet wheel normally enou. 1 a. nuwl pressed on the wheel by a i li hen the binding member is w nnd on the rinding she'tt till the clamping burs grip the sheets, this ratchet and pawl will normally hold the winding sha'tt from turning and releasing the clamping bars.

To release the winding shaft and open the charming mechanism, we provide it cent 28 on a lockingpin 29 set in the end plug and hinge member fitting orer the ratchet and mwl. This end plug; and hinge member is shown in Fig. 5'. When the locking pin 29 is turned from the position shown in F 1, i one 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the cum pushes the pawl cleanol? the ratchet wheel and it is then only necessary to pull the clamping bars a nut to be able to change the sheets in the hinder. There is a pin projecting from one side of the locking pin 29 n'iidwuy oi its ends, which limits the rotation of the locking pin to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by coming in Contact with the walls ot' the end plug and hinge member;

The outer end of the locking pin 29 is slot-ted Figs. 1 and to receive the edge of a coin or the handle of the key for the winding shu't't to turn the locking pin. The disk and the end plug beur indicating marks which show whether the mechanism is locked or open. Furthermore in our construction the brace and the friction in the winding means prevent iull opening oi. the clamping members and unintentional release of the sheets when the mechanism is unlocked. The clamping bars mush he pulled upert-they will not full on their backs and unwind the binding member of their own accord beczuse of the restricted size of the slots 11. and the friction in the winding 'i'ieehanism. Vi e have found that this winding mechanism permits rapid opening and closing of the clamping bars and we have also found that the tensionzll elusticity oi the cord 19 provides excellent cooperating tension with the ratchet and pawl, thus obviating; the necessity for a spring.

Our construction is so compact and "duptzible that it can he used in large ledger eh binders requiring tour or more posts as well as binders having only two posts. This construction is shown in rigs. 8 one Q and (litters from the construction shot the first seven fig-i only in that there :1 two disks "24- nnd two flexible niembn' 1..- on each shaft instead of one. The nieche nism is so simple and conniuct that the posts can be placer. as close together us is required in any loose leu'i post binder now on the market. it will be apparent that the cords can be oi round, lot or any desired cross section and tl at posts in any multiple o1 two can be furnished by dtmlicziting disks and cords. It should be further pointed on that it an odd number of posts is desired. one flexible men'ibor 19 can be cut oil at the disk and only one half used.

The claiming bars are preterubly made with enlarged portion adapted to lie just beyond the edges of the sheets and partially opposite them; This enlarged portion is nfet'erebly rounded so that when the binder lies open on its back and resting on these enlarged portions the bars can be easily turned on their longitudinal axes. By putting the winding shaft in this enlarged portion of the upper bar and making the other of the same size the bars afford a symmetrical basis for the binder when lying on its back and at the same time do not increase the total thickness of the binder unnecessarily. When there are so few sheets in the binder that the bars have been drawn together till their enlarged portions touch each other the bars will tip so that the edges of the tubes furthest from the enlarged por 'tions will always maintain a grip on the sheets. The collapsible brace is connected to the clamping tubes at points close to the edges of the sheets by the parts already doscribed so that the siightest relaxing of the tension of the binding member will permit the charming bars to turn on their longi tudinal axes and force the binding member to arch upward between them like the back of a flexibly bound book. It will be noted that the turning of the clamping bars on their longitudinal axes also releases the sheets from all clan'iping pressure. If the binding member is fastened to the edges of the sheets rather than at a little distance from the edges it is not necessary to loosen the binding member at all to enable it to arch up. Vi e believe that this is the first binder with a rigid connection between the clamping bars which opens like a flexibleback bound book i. e. arches up the sheets and releases them from clamping pressure. t will be evident that this construction is a great lIHPIOYQIilGDt over prior binders and especially over prior ledger binders.

What we claim is 1. In a loose leaf post binder, a pair of hollow clamping bars, and a longitudinal shaft in the upper of said bars, in combination with a binding member passing through said upper bar and lniving its ends fastened to the lower of said bars, and a single winding means connected to the central part of said shaft adapted to wind said binding member on said shaft inv two helices.

2. In a loose leaf post binder, a pair of hollow clamping bars, and a longitudinal shaft in the upper of said bars in combination with a binding member passing through said upper bar and having its ends fastened to the tower bar, and a single winding means connected to the central part of said shaft, through which said binding member slips freely. adapted to wind said member on said shaft helical 1y.

In a loose leaf post binder, a pair of hollow clamping bars, a longitudinal shaft in the upper of said bars, a binding member passing through said upper bar and having its ends fastened to the lower bar, and a single winding means connected to the central part of said shaft through which said binning member slips freely, adapted to wind said men'iber on said shaft helically, in coml nation with expansible bracing means directly fastened to said clamping members n'eventing angular displacement of said clamping members with respect to each other.

4.. A loose lea-f post binder having a pair of clampu nembers and a flexible binding l to cause said pair of clampexert on the sheets in the bii in con ination with means connecting said clamping members tog-ether in such manner as to prevent angular displacenient thereof with respect to each other and adapted to permit said clamping members to turn on their longitudinal axes to shift'thcir pressure to the 1' ar edges of the sheets, thus pern'iitting the sheets to arch upward.

5. A loose leaf post binder having a flexible bind nembcr and a pair of clamping inen'ibers, in con'ibination with expansible means connecting said clamping braci members and adapted to permit said clamping members to pivot on longitudinal axes near the edge of the binding side of the sheets in the binder.

(5. A backless loose leaf post binder having a flexible binding member and a pair of clan'ming members, in cmnbination with ex pansible bracing means swivelly connected to each of said clamping members and adapted to permit said clampin members lingited rotation on their longitudinal axes.

A backless loose leaf binder having a flexible binding iii-ember and a pair of hollow clamping bars each having a rounded portion lying beyond the edge of the sheets in the binder, said rounded portions at all times forming a steady base for the binder when laid on its back in combination with eXpansibl-e bracing means connecting said clamping bars and adapted to permit them to turn on their longitudinal axes in either direction from normal.

8. A loose leaf post binder having a flexible binding inen'iber and a pair of hollow clamping bars each having an enlarged portion adapted to overhang the edges of the sheets in the binder, in combination with expansible bracing means connecting said clamping bars and adapted to permit them to turn on their longitudinal axes and grip the sheets in the binder when the enlarged portions of the clamping bars are in contact with each other.

9. in a loose leaf binder, a pair of hollow clamping bars each having an enlarged por tion ly ng beyond the edge f the sheets in the binder and partially on a line with the sheets, and a longitudinal shaft in the overhanging portion of the upper bar, in com bination with a binding member passing through said upper bar and having its ends fastened to the lower bar, and winding means connected to the central part of said shaft, through which said binding member slips freely, adapted to Wind said binding member on said shaft. in two helices.

10. In a loose leaf binder, hollow clamping bars, independent closure means fixed in the ends of said bars, and a longitudinal winding shaft revohibly mounted in said closure means in the upper bar, in combina tion with a disk keyed to the middle of said winding shaft, and a binding member having its ends fastened to the lower bar and passing freely through the upper bar and said disk, the latter being adapted to wind said binding member on said shaft in two helices, and expansible bracing means connecting said clamping bars and adapted to permit said clan'qaing members limited relation on their longitudinal axes.

ill. In a loose leaf binder, hollow clamping bars each having an enlarged and round ed portion lying beyond the edge of the sheets in the binder and partially in line with the sheets, said portions at all times forming a steady base for the binder when laid on its back, and a longitudinal shaft mounted directly in the overhanging portion of the upper bar, in combination with a binding member having its ends fastened to the lower bar and passing freely through the upper bar, and a disk on said longitudinal shaft through which said binding member also passes freely, said disk being adapted to wind said binding member on said shaft in two helices, and expansible bracing means connecting said clamping bars and adapted to permit said clamping members limited rotation on their longitudinal axes.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.-

' ALWIN VON AUWV.

CHAS. A. FINLEY. 

